Mayon exhibits minor explosive activity, 11 quakes in 24 hours — PHIVOLCS

Mayon Volcano in Albay exhibited minor Strombolian activity and recorded 11 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours as it remains under Alert Level 3, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

The observations were based on PHIVOLCS’ 24-hour monitoring report on Mayon Volcano released on Wednesday.

Minor Strombolian activity refers to occasional, low-level volcanic explosions that shoot glowing-hot lava fragments, ash, and gas into the air from the volcano’s summit crater.

PHIVOLCS also observed a crater glow, a plume rising 1,600 meters above the crater, and sulfur dioxide emissions amounting to 1,894 tonnes per day.

Ground deformation, described as an “inflation of the edifice with short-term deflation on the northeastern sector,” was also observed at Mayon.

The country’s most active volcano has been under Alert Level 3 since its moderately explosive eruption on Friday, Oct. 30. This means the volcano is experiencing a high level of volcanic unrest, increasing the likelihood of lava flows and hazardous pyroclastic density currents (PDCs).

PHIVOLCS advised the public against entering Mayon’s six-kilometer permanent danger zone due to possible hazards, including rockfalls, lava flows, lava fountaining, and PDCs.

The agency also advised aircraft to avoid flying close to the volcano. — Edg Adrian A. Eva